The idea for this story began with a news article about a cold case murder investigation of an unknown female in a rural Arkansas county. Initially logged in as Jane Doe #3 for the year, detectives now refer to her as Bone Woman. What kind of person, I wondered, could commit such a murder? Was the killer a stranger or someone known to the victim—perhaps a family member or close friend? How did they meet, and why did she die? The questions lingered, and I tinkered with the idea of bringing a Jane Doe into a novel.
About that same time, I met noted historian and folklorist Phillip W. Steele and was captivated by Ozark tales of buried treasure. As Mr. Steele and I discussed regional folklore, it occurred to me a treasure hunt would be an intriguing backdrop to a murder mystery set in the Ozarks. And with these two ideas, Deadly Ties was begun.
About that same time, I met noted historian and folklorist Phillip W. Steele and was captivated by Ozark tales of buried treasure. As Mr. Steele and I discussed regional folklore, it occurred to me a treasure hunt would be an intriguing backdrop to a murder mystery set in the Ozarks. And with these two ideas, Deadly Ties was begun.